Day One;

[chiseler]

[He's already been here longer than he would like and it hasn't been that long. Still, demigods never do well being trapped and while he ponders on an escape plan he finds himself filled with a bunch of pent-up energy.

As it turns out, the best way to use that energy is to run laps around a track. On occasion he'll sprint, leap over invisible targets and change his direction entirely. Overall it probably looks a little strange and more like he's running from something. But that doesn't matter. It keeps him busy for about an hour and a half before he finds that he's a little worn out. Constantly being on the move like that isn't something he's used to anymore.

The other thing he finds is that he's kind of gross and sweaty now which really doesn't help the situation. He sighs to himself, running a hand through his hair before disappearing from the gym all together. He's not aware of anyone who might be watching and maybe he doesn't even care. Instead, he heads back to his apartment for a change of clothes before ducking into the bathroom.

The bathroom at this hour seems blissfully empty, so he doesn't bother hurrying through anything. Why? They have all the time in the world here, it seems, and he's out of his sweat-drenched clothes shortly after before wrapping a towel around his waist to grab soap/shampoo/etc.

The broken shower door gets his attention though and he's eyeing it curiously, fingering at the hinges before laughing to himself. This is what he finds himself doing when he suddenly hears footsteps behind him and he turns his head a fraction. Upon seeing who it is though, he only gives a tiny smirk in response.]

You know…we should probably stop meeting like this.

Comments

[antietam]

Heroes... what does that mean? [ He frowns at the thought of anyone being at a camp for five years. ] How do you train for that? Your... quest?

[ He barely notices they're in the rec room, so he just blinks slowly at the deck of cards in his hand, then looks up in question. ]

[chiseler]

What do you think it means? Gods always need demigods to do their bidding for them even if they won't bother talking to their kids. They call us heroes...it's kind of a joke. Just like our quests are nothing but a big joke. You train and you train and you train and you learn to fight monsters and be faster and stronger than any mortal and in the end...that's it. [And on that lovely note...he's jumping up onto the pool table, shuffling cards and dealing out one face down and one face up for both of them.]

...tell you what. You ever play 21? I'd ask about poker, but this is more my speed.

[antietam]

[ So Luke seems to be against all of it. The gods, the quests, the camp? He can't blame him if it's what it sounds like—beings you've never met expecting you to do things for them because they're family. He suddenly wonders where Luke's scar came from, but he's not going to ask about it.

Actually, he looks pretty amused when Luke asks him to play a game. ] Sure. It's not like it's that complicated. [ He walks over and leans against the pool table next to his cards. ] So why do you stay? Why do you listen to them?

[chiseler]

[He holds up a hand to stop Adam from continuing the questions.] Hold on. We're playing a game. You stay under or get 21, you can ask me whatever you want. You bust, I get to ask the questions. Do we have a deal?

[antietam]

[ Adam raises his eyebrows and then laughs. Why is this a game? ] If you like that better than talking like adults, sure. Aces high or low?

[ The face-up card is a 9 and then he turns his card over for a jack. He frowns. ]

[chiseler]

[Talking??? How about no.] Aces low. [He lets Adam flip his cards and he leans back on the pool table with the deck shifting from one hand to another. He lets out a low whistle.]

Tough call. [Especially when his face card is a five.] Hit, stay? [He doesn't offer a double-down option because that seems silly. Why are they doing this? Shh, just go with it.]

[antietam]

Stay. [ It's the only thing he can do since he isn't a risk-taker. He hops up on the pool table as well, next to his cards. He watches Luke's cards closely. ]

You're not hustling me, are you?

[chiseler]

Do I look like the kind of person to hustle somebody? [He says as he flips the card with an almost elegant flick of his wrist. A five and a six. He narrows his eyes, flipping another card and dishing out a ten. He smiles to himself before glancing up at Adam.]

Probably should've mentioned that those rules also apply to me if I win. So. [He's taking the cards and shuffling again.] You mentioned a school. It's not some weird magic school, is it? [Luke has zero place calling anything weird but you know what, that's happening.]

[antietam]

Absolutely. [ And his look only gets more suspicious when Luke manages a perfect 21. He's now that he's being played but he's not sure how since he's watching. So he just rolls his eyes, waiting to be able to call him out. ]

Do you think I'm a wizard? It's a normal, all-boys prep school. I think you know that people aren't really into the idea of magic. I'd rather not get burned at the stake.

[chiseler]

I thought they stopped doing that. [Hmm. Oh well. He's dealing out their cards. Two nines for Adam, and another five for himself with his face-down card.] I have no idea what prep school means by the way. For all I know you could be learning wizardry there.

[He's mostly joking around but...he...really doesn't know what prep schools are for. Help him.] Hit or stay?

[antietam]

I don't know. Haven't seen any witch accusations lately. [ He frowns up at Luke. He's going to break the rules. ] College prep. Does your camp have school?

[ He purses his lips down at his cards but still he's not going to risk it. ] Stay. [ Surely Luke can't get another 21?? ]

[chiseler]

Nope. Not really. Camp's usually for summer session but those of us who lived there year round just figured it out as we went. [Or maybe that's just Luke. He flips his face down card to reveal an 8, chewing his lip before drawing another card. It's a two. He can get closer, right? One more draw...and it's a queen.]

Shit.

[antietam]

[ So Luke hasn't gone to school since he was 14? That's crazy to him. Are heroes not expected to go to college?

He watches Luke keep going, somehow expecting things to work out in his favor... but then he gets the queen and it makes him smile. ] You're too greedy. Alright. Why do you listen to whoever's telling you to do the quests and go to camp?

[chiseler]

[He looks a little put-off by his hand but he shakes his head, sweeping up the cards to redeal.]

Used to be because I didn't know any better, but who says I'm still listening and still going to camp?

[antietam]

[ Adam nods slowly, eyeing him closely this time instead of the cards. ] Were you leaving for good? When you ended up here?

[chiseler]

…yes. That was the plan anyway. [He places a card down for himself, face down, and deals Adam a ten. He flips a card up for himself to reveal a king and flips a second card for Adam, a two.] Hit, I assume?

[He's apparently forgotten that "double down" is an option in this game, too.]

[antietam]

[ Adam nods in understanding. He can appreciate that sort of thing, getting out of a bad place. He scrunches up his face at his total because he can't settle there but there's still a risk. Still, he shrugs. He's played the game enough before at the shop to know the rules. ]

Yeah. If I say double down, does that mean I get two questions?

[chiseler]

[He considers that for a moment, looking at Adam curiously. He's not anticipating Adam to win, of course, and after a moment he nods to himself.]

Sure, why not? [Double the stakes, so he flips Adam's next card. He smirks as he throws the ten down on top of Adam's twelve.] So much for that. [He flips his face-down card to reveal an eight and he leans back on his hands on the pool tabletop.]

But now that means it's my turn. First question, what's with the trees?

[antietam]

[ It's a risk but he has to have a chance here. When he sees the ten, he huffs and looks off angrily for a moment. ] Whatever. Let me deal next time, alright?

[ Luke must be messing with him. But he's also thinking about how to explain the trees because he'd intentionally avoided talking about Cabeswater. It might narrow its location down too much and he can't tell anyone about where it is. ]

I don't know. It's worded strangely. I think it comes from the fact that sometimes trees house the magical properties of the leylines. They manifest it. So ultimately, magical trees.

[chiseler]

[Excuse you, Adam. He looks too pleased with himself at Adam's anger and holds out the cards to him, patiently waiting for him to deal. On the other hand, he's listening and he's surprised by the similarities.]

Magical trees. Okay…I mean we've got one of those, too. It's the barrier to protect the camp. I don't think it's the leyline thing though. Second question…are you really that good with your hands? [That's not a serious question except for the part where it is. What does that even mean?]

[antietam]

[ Adam grabs the cards and shuffles them thoroughly, frowning at Luke the whole time. ] How does it work, then? [ He hesitates in his movements a little, wondering if it's really a coincidence for them to have a magical tree. Does Cabeswater only come in forests? Probably not. He has no idea.

The question receives an expectant look, wondering if that's really what he wants to know. ] Probably. You think it's lying? [ He smirks and does a dovetail shuffle to show off, then deals their cards. Luke's first card is a ten and Adam flips the next one for an eight. His own face-up card is a five. ]

[chiseler]

What, the tree? I don't know, it just has this magical barrier it projects that keeps monsters out. It's not like I can ask the dumb thing. That sounds more like your expertise than mine.

And I never said it was lying, but do you already believe everything you read? [Both eyebrows raise as he watches the fancy shuffle, looking at his cards carefully.] ...I'll stay.

[antietam]

I don't— [ I don't talk to trees but he kind of has? His life is a mess. ] You really don't think that sounds like some leyline force? I've seen it create a barrier before.

And here I thought you were a risk-taker. [ He flips over his own card for an 8. There's a frown and he draws another card. It's a 6. He grins. ] Most of this information seems pretty accurate judging by reactions. I think it's mostly just worded in either a comedic or antagonistic way. Probably to see how fast we'll distrust each other. Who would have thought we'd be bonding like this? [ He passes the cards back to Luke, satisfied. ]

Tell me about your plans.

[chiseler]

Since I've never dealt with a leyline before, I don't know. But I would think we'd be told that if it were true. Maybe it's two different ways of accomplishing the same thing.

What you're saying is that the profiles are written by somebody with a sense of humor. I think I get it. If "complaining" can really count as a skill I'm not sure if I should be worried or impressed. [But he frowns upon seeing the cards Adam's flipped before taking the deck himself.]

...who said this was bonding? [He shuffles the cards, but he doesn't deal them quite yet.] My plans? I plan on finding a way to disable the ankle monitor and get out of here. That's about as far as I've gotten. [He knows that's not what Adam means, but that's what you get when you don't specify.]

[antietam]

Maybe. [ Or maybe the gods are too egotistical to admit to there being another force. It's not like it's really that important for him in the grand scheme of things. ] You're the one who can dodge hammers. I wouldn't start making fun of other people's skills.

[ The avoidant answer makes him scowl. ] You know that's not what I meant and you still have to answer. Don't be a jerk about your own game. [ He taps Luke's leg with his shoe. ] Which is probably the most bonding I've ever done with anyone, so deal with it.